My dear M^r. Darwin,

Many thanks to you for your trouble. Oddly enough the same post brought me an Application from Bernard Quaritch the bookseller (who has been selling as many copies as he could procure of the first Edition at from £2 to £3) begging me if I thought of reprinting the book to “let him have the selling of it”.¹

Not knowing what he meant I stopped my cab at his door on the way to the Office & saw him. He says he has taken a fancy to the book & will give me 30 guineas for the right to reprint a new Edition of it—undertaking to bring it out handsomely & send copies right & left to the Newspapers &c. & to any eminent persons I may desire it to be sent to.

No doubt he w^d. give more money if I wished it but that is immaterial. I think of letting him have it on his own terms. I am indeed astonished at his liberality—but then he is’nt a publisher! I have never myself got a farthing from one of them & hardly know a person that ever did.—

I am sorry M^r. Murray declined.² I much prefer giving the book to Quaritch to taking it to MacMillan³

If Litchfield⁴ is still with you say I w^d. be glad if he w^d. look out & see me some night. I never now go out after dusk.

With kindest regards to you all I am | y^rs. sincerely | J. F M’Lennan.